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May 11, 2010

G34: Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 1

Matsuzaka went seven innings, allowed just three hits and a run. He didn’t walk anyone while throwing 71 strikes in 106 pitches.

He worked quickly, had a great four-seam fastball, and went to a three-ball count on only five of his 24 batters. And only four of the 21 outs left the infield (three of them in the second inning).

Since arriving here, I think this game is the one where I felt the most comfortable using my fastball.

It was only the 3rd time in his major league career that Matsuzaka pitched at least 7 innings and did not walk a batter. The other two came in consecutive starts way back in 2007: May 14 (9-6-1-0-5 against the Tigers; his only CG no-walker!) and May 19 (8-9-3-0-6 against Atlanta).

And it was only the 7th time in 76 career starts (of any length) that he did not issue a walk. The others: May 30, 2007 (5.2 innings), April 1, 2008 (6.2), May 27, 2008 (4), and June 7, 2009 (5.2).

Jason Varitek belted yet another home run (#6), a second inning bomb that cleared everything in left. The Cactus also singled and scored in the fourth. J.D. Drew singled twice, walked, and stole a base; Dustin Pedroia doubled, singled, and walked; and both Kevin Youkilis and Marco Scutaro walked twice. Yook was also HBP. Toronto pitchers, after walking seven batters last night, walked eight tonight.

The Yankees were rained out in Detroit (they will play a day-nighter on Wednesday) and Tampa Bay beat the Angels 7-2.

Third start of the season for Dice. Maybe he can avoid having one ghastly inning this time. So far this year: 10 innings, 12 hits, 6 walks, 7 strikeouts, 9.90 ERA.

Eveland had a rough go of it against the Sox back on April 26 (3-8-7-3-3). but then, he always does. In four career starts, he has a 18.24 ERA (30 hits and 11 walks in 12.2 innings = 3.324 WHIP!). Current Boston players are hitting him at a .446/.512/.568 clip.

Regressing to the mean: Darnell McDonald is 3 for his last 24, with 9 K. ... Jacoby Ellsbury did some baserunning drills this afternoon. ... The White Sox signed Alan Embree.

After the Red Sox lost to the Yankees last Saturday, Cool Standings had the team (then 7.5 GB) at a 4.4% chance to make the playoffs. In two days, Boston has gained two games in the standings and is now 5.5 GB. CS is not overly impressed, however -- or rather, Tampa Bay and New York don't look appreciably weaker -- and has Boston at only 6.9%. BP's PECOTA projections currently has the Sox at 18.8%.

Is that not the cheapest double you will ever see or what? That thing traveled a grand total of 150 feet, and Pedroia was like 6 feet out of the batters box when it was caught by the guy in the stands.

most of what chb does is horrible, mailed-in shit -- it seems like he hates both his job and baseball a LOT -- but then every so often he will turn in a very good piece. i often say how shocked i was with his game stories in the LCS and WS in 2004 -- he was firmly in hack territory even then, but that was totally brilliant work.

odd. so he has talent, he just doesn't bother to use more than a few times a year.

His books are excellent too, and they make you think he has a soul. His book about Fenway is wonderful, especially the first 50 or so pages.

But yeah... baseball is his favorite sport from childhood, and he *still* writes like an angry curmudgeon most of the time. Imagine what it's like when he writes about hockey or football, sports he does not understand or seem to like.

This article he wrote about the new england patriots game in London remains the worst piece of sportswriting I can recall reading.

As for the studying marathons... I'm not really on a studying marathon, I'm on more of a "do all the work that I didn't do during the semester in a big catch-up session" thanks to epic senioritis. Boooo

I don't love writing enough to do it for rock-bottom pay. I like to write on my own time for my own reasons, but it's not something I'm relying upon going forward.

I *am* enjoying milking this Metro thing to get to cover some sweet events before I graduate.

Sadly, no Sox games - one of the idiot interns two years ago asked someone for an autograph thinking nobody was going to find out, and got bagged. Big no no, so Metro had its intern credential pulled at Fenway. Bad news bears.

Imagine if there was a way of knowing from the very first two batters or so of the first inning that the Red Sox were definitely going to lose, then watching the whole game anyway. Groan.

The Habs game was greet, from the parts I saw. Boston-Montreal is an epic rivalry so I usually don't have many good things to say about them, but their playoff run has been tremendous and they play with a lot of heart. I think every hockey journalist I've encountered is praying for a Boston-Montreal conference final

Everyone I know here wants Habs-Bruins too. Except my friend Tom whose dad help create the Penguins. He was their first GM. They won the Cup last year on his 90th birthday and honoured him at the parade.

Sadly, no Sox games - one of the idiot interns two years ago asked someone for an autograph thinking nobody was going to find out, and got bagged. Big no no, so Metro had its intern credential pulled at Fenway. Bad news bears

Joe, I assume the Metro is your school paper? and if it is I am suprised the Red Sox continue that ban...